Neutron capture therapy apparatus

Abstract

A neutron capture therapy apparatus includes: an irradiator that irradiates an irradiation spot of an irradiation target with a neutron ray; and an electromagnetic wave irradiator that irradiates the irradiation target with an electromagnetic wave for aligning the irradiation target with a position where the irradiation target is disposed, in which the electromagnetic wave irradiator changes an irradiation position of the electromagnetic wave based on treatment plan information regarding the irradiation target.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A neutron capture therapy apparatus comprising:
 an irradiator that irradiates an irradiation spot of an irradiation target with a neutron ray; and   an electromagnetic wave irradiator that irradiates the irradiation target with an electromagnetic wave for aligning the irradiation target with a position where the irradiation target is disposed, wherein   the electromagnetic wave irradiator changes an irradiation position of the electromagnetic wave based on treatment plan information regarding the irradiation target.   
     
     
         2 . The neutron capture therapy apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an accelerator that accelerates charged particles of negative ions and emits a charged particle beam.   
     
     
         3 . The neutron capture therapy apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a neutron ray generating unit to which the charged particle beam emitted from the accelerator is sent.   
     
     
         4 . The neutron capture therapy apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the neutron ray generating unit includes a beam duct and a target, and the charged particle beam emitted from the accelerator passes through the beam duct and proceeds toward the target.   
     
     
         5 . The neutron capture therapy apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a control device that controls an entirety of the neutron capture therapy apparatus.   
     
     
         6 . The neutron capture therapy apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the control device includes a treatment plan acquisition unit, a laser position calculation unit, and an operation control unit, and   the treatment plan acquisition unit acquires treatment plan information including information on a distance and a direction between a reference position on a side of the irradiator and the irradiation spot.   
     
     
         7 . The neutron capture therapy apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the laser position calculation unit calculates an irradiation position of a laser based on the treatment plan information acquired by the treatment plan acquisition unit.   
     
     
         8 . The neutron capture therapy apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the operation control unit controls a laser irradiator, which is a laser irradiation unit, to move based on a calculation result by the laser position calculation unit.   
     
     
         9 . The neutron capture therapy apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the electromagnetic wave irradiator is a laser irradiation unit.   
     
     
         10 . The neutron capture therapy apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the treatment plan information includes at least information for calculating a distance and a direction between a reference position on a side of the irradiator that emits the neutron ray and the irradiation spot.   
     
     
         11 . The neutron capture therapy apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the electromagnetic wave irradiator changes the irradiation position of the electromagnetic wave along an axial direction in which a center axis of the neutron ray extends.   
     
     
         12 . The neutron capture therapy apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the electromagnetic wave irradiator changes the irradiation position along a direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which a center axis of the neutron ray extends.   
     
     
         13 . The neutron capture therapy apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the irradiation position of the electromagnetic wave irradiator is recalculated based on information regarding an irradiation field forming device that forms an irradiation field of the neutron ray.